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Modern Marriage
Everything in Klara’s life seems perfect.
She runs a successful cosmetic clinic with her best friend Tomas, she has a beautiful house near the beach in Melbourne, and she and her adoring husband Dante are trying for a baby.
Then one day she receives a call that punctures her perfect life. Dante has had an accident. He was found unconscious in a gay sauna and now lies in a coma. What Klara discovers about her husband will disrupt everything she thought she knew about love, marriage and family.
From Australia’s most exciting new author, Modern Marriage will cause you to question what lies beneath the appearance of perfection.
She runs a successful cosmetic clinic with her best friend Tomas, she has a beautiful house near the beach in Melbourne, and she and her adoring husband Dante are trying for a baby.
Then one day she receives a call that punctures her perfect life. Dante has had an accident. He was found unconscious in a gay sauna and now lies in a coma. What Klara discovers about her husband will disrupt everything she thought she knew about love, marriage and family.
From Australia’s most exciting new author, Modern Marriage will cause you to question what lies beneath the appearance of perfection.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2021
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218 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 18, 2022
What an outstanding debut. I love when an author’s first book reads nothing like the sort. This was a story of love and marriage, truth, and deceit.
Klara who seems to lead a charmed life, has her world rocked to the core when her beloved husband dies in circumstances that can’t be real to her, found dead in a gay sauna. His family of origin is a close one, and I could feel her separation from them acutely as their grief was mainly reserved for their own, not for her. She was alone with no family of her own, apart from her business partner and best friend Tomas, who in turn knows more about her dead husband that she herself does.
The husband’s family are aware of none of the facts and were looking to blame her for this unexpected death in any way possible, which was exacerbated by a meddling sister-in-law with a warped sense of grandiosity and need to control. A character to despise; this propelled the story in an emotional way. The chapters devoted to her were captivating and psychologically quite thrilling. As a character she was drawn incredibly well. The author's creation of this character propelled my fascination throughout.
Another recent theme for me - this time though a fictional account - including themes of repressed sexuality, which also drew in the quite recent issue of the Australian marriage plebiscite. This was covered with understanding and will show the reader an experience of a marginalised group. An aircraft crafted the word 'Vote No'! This was real.
Klara and Tomas run a cosmetic clinic together; the backdrop to this was comprehensive and showed us that the perfect image created in the clinic will never match what occurs behind close doors.
A woman who has lost her husband in heartbreaking circumstances does not succumb to her widow’s family demands and remains closed off, her character doesn’t wallow, her reaction is to hide the truth from this tight knit family and withdraw into herself with serious and tragic consequences. I found this unwillingness to give herself a break hard to read.
There are serious themes here that my trigger readers, particularly self-harm and homophobia.
This is an extremely well written and highly recommended debut, an author that will be on my radar.
Klara who seems to lead a charmed life, has her world rocked to the core when her beloved husband dies in circumstances that can’t be real to her, found dead in a gay sauna. His family of origin is a close one, and I could feel her separation from them acutely as their grief was mainly reserved for their own, not for her. She was alone with no family of her own, apart from her business partner and best friend Tomas, who in turn knows more about her dead husband that she herself does.
The husband’s family are aware of none of the facts and were looking to blame her for this unexpected death in any way possible, which was exacerbated by a meddling sister-in-law with a warped sense of grandiosity and need to control. A character to despise; this propelled the story in an emotional way. The chapters devoted to her were captivating and psychologically quite thrilling. As a character she was drawn incredibly well. The author's creation of this character propelled my fascination throughout.
Another recent theme for me - this time though a fictional account - including themes of repressed sexuality, which also drew in the quite recent issue of the Australian marriage plebiscite. This was covered with understanding and will show the reader an experience of a marginalised group. An aircraft crafted the word 'Vote No'! This was real.
Klara and Tomas run a cosmetic clinic together; the backdrop to this was comprehensive and showed us that the perfect image created in the clinic will never match what occurs behind close doors.
A woman who has lost her husband in heartbreaking circumstances does not succumb to her widow’s family demands and remains closed off, her character doesn’t wallow, her reaction is to hide the truth from this tight knit family and withdraw into herself with serious and tragic consequences. I found this unwillingness to give herself a break hard to read.
There are serious themes here that my trigger readers, particularly self-harm and homophobia.
This is an extremely well written and highly recommended debut, an author that will be on my radar.
September 19, 2021
Modern Marriage is a domestic drama, having at its centre the marriage of Klara and Dante, two late thirties professionals.
Klara's life is upended when Dante is discovered unconscious in a gay sauna. Unsurprisingly, Klara begins questioning everything, looking back at their relationship, rehashing the past for clues she might have missed. As it's often the case, misery and misfortune attract more of the same. The stress and angst were palpable.
Her best friend and cosmetic practice partner, Tomas, gay himself, has a secret he keeps from Klara as well. Vukasin affords him several chapters so we hear his point of view.
Klara's sister-in-law, Rachael, is also given plenty of air time. She's a psychologist, a bit of a know-it-all, who takes her love of crime podcasts a bit too far.
This was an accomplished debut novel, similar in style to Liane Moriarty's more recent novels.
Klara's life is upended when Dante is discovered unconscious in a gay sauna. Unsurprisingly, Klara begins questioning everything, looking back at their relationship, rehashing the past for clues she might have missed. As it's often the case, misery and misfortune attract more of the same. The stress and angst were palpable.
Her best friend and cosmetic practice partner, Tomas, gay himself, has a secret he keeps from Klara as well. Vukasin affords him several chapters so we hear his point of view.
Klara's sister-in-law, Rachael, is also given plenty of air time. She's a psychologist, a bit of a know-it-all, who takes her love of crime podcasts a bit too far.
This was an accomplished debut novel, similar in style to Liane Moriarty's more recent novels.
September 11, 2021
Modern Marriage by Filip Vukasin is a fairly intense page turner. This was a book sent to me by Affirm Press and one that I might have missed otherwise, so a big thank you. It doesn’t hold back and some scenes were quite disturbing. It is a domestic drama, Hugh on the drama!!
Klara and Dante are a good looking couple, looking to start a family. Life is pretty good for them with their nice house and jobs. Klara works as a cosmetic doctor in her practice with her best friend Tomas. All it takes is one phone call and everything is turned on it’s head. Everything that she thought she knew of her husband is a lie when she finds out he was found unconscious in a gay sauna.
Told from the points of view of Klara, Tomas and sister in law Rachel (a character I did not like at all) we see he Dante’s secret impacts their lives. It is dark and the characters deal with a lot and not always in the best manners. It was an interesting look at marriage and the fact that things are not always as they seem.
Klara and Dante are a good looking couple, looking to start a family. Life is pretty good for them with their nice house and jobs. Klara works as a cosmetic doctor in her practice with her best friend Tomas. All it takes is one phone call and everything is turned on it’s head. Everything that she thought she knew of her husband is a lie when she finds out he was found unconscious in a gay sauna.
Told from the points of view of Klara, Tomas and sister in law Rachel (a character I did not like at all) we see he Dante’s secret impacts their lives. It is dark and the characters deal with a lot and not always in the best manners. It was an interesting look at marriage and the fact that things are not always as they seem.
October 7, 2021
*** Thank you to Affirm Press for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***
Content warnings: Death of spouse, cheating, genital mutilation, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, abortion, child pregnancy, incest, homophobia, forced coming out, self harm, death of parent to cancer (past), death of parent to suicide (past), suicidal thoughts, blood, stalking, needles
First thing's first...:
There are a few things to note, before I get into this. Firstly, I am not an own voices reviewer for many of the components in this book. I am a straight, cis, white, millenial, Australian female. I encourage all readers to seek the voices of those represented in the books they read and their reviews should be held with more weight. The element I can speak to in this book is the grieving process as a woman with mental health challenges. I can also speak to being a straight woman in a relationship with a man. Secondly, this is not a book that I would have chosen for myself. It isn't a genre that I usually pick up, and I found the blurb offputting. However, I persisted.
The thoughts and feelings:
Let's start with the positives. I liked that the chapters were short...like, really short! We are talking 2-3 pages. If you're someone who only gets a few minutes to read at a time then this writing style may work for you. I also liked the multiple points of view - you know I'm a sucker for this as it usually creates suspense and anticipation. I also appreciated the immigrant perspective brought in through one of these characters, expressing the challenges of being away from one's culture, family, and moving to another country. I also enjoyed seeing little bits of Melbourne within the setting. I love this beautiful part of Australia.
However, there was a lot that I didn't enjoy in this novel. The following will likely be quite spoilery, so please read at your own discretion.
I found that really concerning content was used over, and over again, for shock purposes. For example, The content itself wasn't explored in any depth and this was limited by the short chapters. So, although I liked that it was fast to read, this didn't enable for much exploration of plot or character choices.
The grieving process undertaken by Klara was again used for shock purposes - she seems to be on a regular grieving journey, then BAM. This really didn't sit well with me, as again this serious topic was being used as a shock factor instead of a natural progression in the character's grief - there was no history given about the character's mental health early in her life until well after this content was brought in, which meant these actions ultimately didn't make sense within the scope of the novel and weren't built up to. As someone who as gone through my own grieving process, and who deals with mental health concerns, this felt very jarring and sudden. This sort of content is highly distressing, and of course has its place in a discussion of grief and self harm, but it should be treated with the utmost care, and I don't feel like it was here.
The entire overtone of the book was homophobic. Even with *some* pro-gay discussion throughout, the focus really was on the negative here. I understand that this novel was informed by Vukaŝin's personal experiences as a gay man, so I really can't speak to this as he would know about what this is like far better than I would ever be able to understand. He is a doctor who works in a range of positions in Sexual Health, Cosmetic Medicine and General Practice, and the inspiration for this novel is drawn from when he heard a male patient had died while in a gay sauna, and wondered what that "would do to the family members left behind, particularly if he had been there secretly". However, I do think it's important for readers to know that this book deals with homophobia in the time of the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite here in Australia, in case that may be a trigger for them. The novel perpetuates stereotypes that could be harmful.
None of the characters were likeable. Rachel was downright abhorrent. Klara felt very disjointed and self-absorbed. Tomas felt like he was meant to run the 'mystery' component as The entire plot felt like it tried to be a mystery but actually... wasn't. I understand that it was a domestic drama, but it just read a little strange to me.
At the end of the day, this just wasn't for me. Hopefully it finds its place amongst readers who will feel validated by the content within and it supports them with what they've gone through.
Content warnings: Death of spouse, cheating, genital mutilation, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, abortion, child pregnancy, incest, homophobia, forced coming out, self harm, death of parent to cancer (past), death of parent to suicide (past), suicidal thoughts, blood, stalking, needles
First thing's first...:
There are a few things to note, before I get into this. Firstly, I am not an own voices reviewer for many of the components in this book. I am a straight, cis, white, millenial, Australian female. I encourage all readers to seek the voices of those represented in the books they read and their reviews should be held with more weight. The element I can speak to in this book is the grieving process as a woman with mental health challenges. I can also speak to being a straight woman in a relationship with a man. Secondly, this is not a book that I would have chosen for myself. It isn't a genre that I usually pick up, and I found the blurb offputting. However, I persisted.
The thoughts and feelings:
Let's start with the positives. I liked that the chapters were short...like, really short! We are talking 2-3 pages. If you're someone who only gets a few minutes to read at a time then this writing style may work for you. I also liked the multiple points of view - you know I'm a sucker for this as it usually creates suspense and anticipation. I also appreciated the immigrant perspective brought in through one of these characters, expressing the challenges of being away from one's culture, family, and moving to another country. I also enjoyed seeing little bits of Melbourne within the setting. I love this beautiful part of Australia.
However, there was a lot that I didn't enjoy in this novel. The following will likely be quite spoilery, so please read at your own discretion.
I found that really concerning content was used over, and over again, for shock purposes. For example, The content itself wasn't explored in any depth and this was limited by the short chapters. So, although I liked that it was fast to read, this didn't enable for much exploration of plot or character choices.
The grieving process undertaken by Klara was again used for shock purposes - she seems to be on a regular grieving journey, then BAM. This really didn't sit well with me, as again this serious topic was being used as a shock factor instead of a natural progression in the character's grief - there was no history given about the character's mental health early in her life until well after this content was brought in, which meant these actions ultimately didn't make sense within the scope of the novel and weren't built up to. As someone who as gone through my own grieving process, and who deals with mental health concerns, this felt very jarring and sudden. This sort of content is highly distressing, and of course has its place in a discussion of grief and self harm, but it should be treated with the utmost care, and I don't feel like it was here.
The entire overtone of the book was homophobic. Even with *some* pro-gay discussion throughout, the focus really was on the negative here. I understand that this novel was informed by Vukaŝin's personal experiences as a gay man, so I really can't speak to this as he would know about what this is like far better than I would ever be able to understand. He is a doctor who works in a range of positions in Sexual Health, Cosmetic Medicine and General Practice, and the inspiration for this novel is drawn from when he heard a male patient had died while in a gay sauna, and wondered what that "would do to the family members left behind, particularly if he had been there secretly". However, I do think it's important for readers to know that this book deals with homophobia in the time of the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite here in Australia, in case that may be a trigger for them. The novel perpetuates stereotypes that could be harmful.
None of the characters were likeable. Rachel was downright abhorrent. Klara felt very disjointed and self-absorbed. Tomas felt like he was meant to run the 'mystery' component as The entire plot felt like it tried to be a mystery but actually... wasn't. I understand that it was a domestic drama, but it just read a little strange to me.
At the end of the day, this just wasn't for me. Hopefully it finds its place amongst readers who will feel validated by the content within and it supports them with what they've gone through.
November 14, 2021
I did not like this! Honestly I usually only give one-star reviews to books which I think are doing harm in some way, but this one is just because I really couldn't see anything the book was even trying to do, let alone succeeding in doing. It seemed just... incompetent.
The author represented feelings in a very embodied way, which would be fine except that, as a doctor writing about (mainly) doctors, he and his characters know a lot of anatomical words and his characters tend to feel things in unusual - and implausible - parts of the body. I swear there's one bit where Tomas feels something in his ventricles, but I can't find it: however, on p.56 alone, we learn that "Regret grips Tomas's diaphragm before his lips tingle" and, extraordinarily, on receiving a text message from Klara saying her husband is dying, Tomas's
oesophagus distends, crushing his lungs and heart because he can physically feel [Klara's] pain (56)
Then there's this passage, where Klara sits on the toilet looking down at her vulva (has she installed a mirror in the toilet?) and then blames her vulva for its inability to gestate a baby:
As she empties her bladder, she looks down at her genitals. Keeping her gaze down, an icy realisation tingles her skin... As she inspects her vulva, she processes what was clearly the cause of Dante turning to men: this repulsive part of her that for so long couldn't give them what they wanted (141)
The prose was pretty bad, too, with mixed metaphors like:
A peep of fear that Klara might not have actually killed Dante rears its head but Rachel shreds that self-doubt with a large exhale (284 - I know I often find that my exhalations have shredded the head of a peep)
and
With more scenarios bouncing, Rachel feels the potential remorse fade and a re-emergence of feverish enquiry crystallise (306)
Some particularly striking misuses of words:
[after Klara has started self-soothing by self-harming with needles]
That evening, at home, after eating two raw carrots and toast with a glass of merlot for dinner, the only obvious repose are the needles in her bathroom (160 - I literally can't guess what this one is supposed to be)
Rachel's voice croaks, stymieing her dread (305 - can't guess this one either)
Marko... hangs up, leaving Rachel... wondering how to proceed next. There was so much she was going to say, suddenly circumcised prematurely (158 - presumably a cross between 'circumscribed' and 'cut off', which almost works on one level and very much doesn't on another).
Anyway, I don't even really have much to say about this as a book (rather than as a linguistic nightmare). It's the least convincing account of grief I've ever read - everyone, including Klara, just seems to think she should be back to normal after about a month (her best mate from school rings her up a couple of weeks after the FUNERAL OF HER THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND to say "I know you've had a lot going on but you haven't been returning my texts!" and that's fairly normal within the world of the novel). And on a narrative level it was just confounding.
The author represented feelings in a very embodied way, which would be fine except that, as a doctor writing about (mainly) doctors, he and his characters know a lot of anatomical words and his characters tend to feel things in unusual - and implausible - parts of the body. I swear there's one bit where Tomas feels something in his ventricles, but I can't find it: however, on p.56 alone, we learn that "Regret grips Tomas's diaphragm before his lips tingle" and, extraordinarily, on receiving a text message from Klara saying her husband is dying, Tomas's
oesophagus distends, crushing his lungs and heart because he can physically feel [Klara's] pain (56)
Then there's this passage, where Klara sits on the toilet looking down at her vulva (has she installed a mirror in the toilet?) and then blames her vulva for its inability to gestate a baby:
As she empties her bladder, she looks down at her genitals. Keeping her gaze down, an icy realisation tingles her skin... As she inspects her vulva, she processes what was clearly the cause of Dante turning to men: this repulsive part of her that for so long couldn't give them what they wanted (141)
The prose was pretty bad, too, with mixed metaphors like:
A peep of fear that Klara might not have actually killed Dante rears its head but Rachel shreds that self-doubt with a large exhale (284 - I know I often find that my exhalations have shredded the head of a peep)
and
With more scenarios bouncing, Rachel feels the potential remorse fade and a re-emergence of feverish enquiry crystallise (306)
Some particularly striking misuses of words:
[after Klara has started self-soothing by self-harming with needles]
That evening, at home, after eating two raw carrots and toast with a glass of merlot for dinner, the only obvious repose are the needles in her bathroom (160 - I literally can't guess what this one is supposed to be)
Rachel's voice croaks, stymieing her dread (305 - can't guess this one either)
Marko... hangs up, leaving Rachel... wondering how to proceed next. There was so much she was going to say, suddenly circumcised prematurely (158 - presumably a cross between 'circumscribed' and 'cut off', which almost works on one level and very much doesn't on another).
Anyway, I don't even really have much to say about this as a book (rather than as a linguistic nightmare). It's the least convincing account of grief I've ever read - everyone, including Klara, just seems to think she should be back to normal after about a month (her best mate from school rings her up a couple of weeks after the FUNERAL OF HER THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND to say "I know you've had a lot going on but you haven't been returning my texts!" and that's fairly normal within the world of the novel). And on a narrative level it was just confounding.
October 8, 2021
"Modern Marriage" is so melodramatic and superficial in its treatment of charater and theme it cannot be taken seriously. There is too much shock value here, and not enough depth. The characters' skewed values discredit them and undermine any empathy the reader may have had for their self-centred lives. And the subplot involving a (yes, superfical) couple holidaying in Peru is entirely removed from the central narrative and should have been jettisoned. The text is also in need of a robust edit, with point-of-view not always consistent with the narrator of each chapter.
December 25, 2021
I cannot begin to express how much I loathed this book…..exciting new author…..don’t think so, certainly will not be reading anymore should he write them.
Klara’s husband Dante is found unconscious in a gay sauna which Klara is told about by the doctors but she doesn’t want anyone to know. Dante has twin brothers who are very heterosexual (homophobic, certainly come across that way to me).
Klara works with Tomas (also gay and hopefully soon to be married to Sam). They have a clinic that does Botox and fillers etc. Tomas had seen Dante in the gay sauna previously and Dante made him promise not to tell Klara but Tomas wants Dante to tell Klara.
Anyway Dante dies in a coma with Klara not having any answers.
All of this is revealed early on in the book so no spoilers.
This book is told from the POV of Klara, Tomas and Rachel. Rachel is married to one of the twins and is a psychologist or something like that. Rachel is also the most ABHORRENT, SELF OBSESSED, AWFUL, UP HERSELF character I have ever read about.
The chapters were short and every time I came to her it was eye roll time.
The book was set during the plebiscite. I am not homophobic, am not against gays etc. This book could have been so much better and more believable and the ending………UGH.
Klara’s husband Dante is found unconscious in a gay sauna which Klara is told about by the doctors but she doesn’t want anyone to know. Dante has twin brothers who are very heterosexual (homophobic, certainly come across that way to me).
Klara works with Tomas (also gay and hopefully soon to be married to Sam). They have a clinic that does Botox and fillers etc. Tomas had seen Dante in the gay sauna previously and Dante made him promise not to tell Klara but Tomas wants Dante to tell Klara.
Anyway Dante dies in a coma with Klara not having any answers.
All of this is revealed early on in the book so no spoilers.
This book is told from the POV of Klara, Tomas and Rachel. Rachel is married to one of the twins and is a psychologist or something like that. Rachel is also the most ABHORRENT, SELF OBSESSED, AWFUL, UP HERSELF character I have ever read about.
The chapters were short and every time I came to her it was eye roll time.
The book was set during the plebiscite. I am not homophobic, am not against gays etc. This book could have been so much better and more believable and the ending………UGH.
November 26, 2021
‘Is Dante Garcia your husband?’
Klara Garcia is a cosmetic surgeon in Melbourne, working in partnership with her friend Tomas. Klara is married to Dante; they are in their late thirties, and they are talking about having a child. Dante has been increasing his fitness regime, and Klara thinks she might need to do some work as well.
And then Klara’s world shifts on its axis. Klara receives a ‘phone call. Dante is unconscious in intensive care. What has happened?
Klara discovers that Dante collapsed in a gay sauna, which immediately raises questions. And the fact that he doesn’t regain consciousness means that Klara cannot ask those questions of Dante. Klara is overwhelmed. She is worried about the possibility of STD, and feels that somehow, she should have known. Klara is anxious about what Dante’s family might think, and she tries to keep this information from them.
A complicated, emotional story unfolds. Tomas, who is gay and who is hoping to marry his partner Sam soon, is concerned about Klara. She’s not taking as much care of her personal presentation as she needs to in the ‘looks are everything’ cosmetic industry, and he knows something about Dante that he really should tell her.
Klara’s sister-in-law, Rachel, thinks that she has all the answers. She’s convinced that Klara knows more about what happened to Dante and starts wondering about motivation. Rachel can visualise the true story, dramatically unfolding in a podcast. And Klara starts injuring herself as she tries to make sense of the past and to face the future.
This novel addresses several complex issues including sexuality, identity, and self-image. I felt sorry for Klara, enjoyed Tomas’s perspective, and loathed Rachel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Klara Garcia is a cosmetic surgeon in Melbourne, working in partnership with her friend Tomas. Klara is married to Dante; they are in their late thirties, and they are talking about having a child. Dante has been increasing his fitness regime, and Klara thinks she might need to do some work as well.
And then Klara’s world shifts on its axis. Klara receives a ‘phone call. Dante is unconscious in intensive care. What has happened?
Klara discovers that Dante collapsed in a gay sauna, which immediately raises questions. And the fact that he doesn’t regain consciousness means that Klara cannot ask those questions of Dante. Klara is overwhelmed. She is worried about the possibility of STD, and feels that somehow, she should have known. Klara is anxious about what Dante’s family might think, and she tries to keep this information from them.
A complicated, emotional story unfolds. Tomas, who is gay and who is hoping to marry his partner Sam soon, is concerned about Klara. She’s not taking as much care of her personal presentation as she needs to in the ‘looks are everything’ cosmetic industry, and he knows something about Dante that he really should tell her.
Klara’s sister-in-law, Rachel, thinks that she has all the answers. She’s convinced that Klara knows more about what happened to Dante and starts wondering about motivation. Rachel can visualise the true story, dramatically unfolding in a podcast. And Klara starts injuring herself as she tries to make sense of the past and to face the future.
This novel addresses several complex issues including sexuality, identity, and self-image. I felt sorry for Klara, enjoyed Tomas’s perspective, and loathed Rachel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 30, 2021
I read 43 chapters but just couldn't not get any further into this book. Not sure about the cover blurb of 'Australia's most exciting new author'. So much was cliched, characters were unlikeable and the storyline implausible despite having reasonable basic structure. Wasted too much time on this one.
February 27, 2022
A MODERN MARRIAGE is a domestic drama / mystery which follows the lives of Klara and Dante. Ostensibly, they’re the perfect couple - in a loving marriage, both beautiful and with successful careers. This façade is turned on it’s head, when Klara is called into the ICU after Dante is found unconscious in a gay sauna.
Mmm this one definitely wasn’t for me. I’ll start with what I liked: short chapters are always a win for me and make for page-turning novels - A MODERN MARRIAGE was no different. Vukašin does well in building tension and I was eager to start the next chapter every time I closed the preceding one. I also enjoyed how it explored different characters’ perspectives and I felt the author was able to authentically capture all of the different voices.
However.. on the whole I was left pretty unsatisfied. I felt that the author had included a number of things for shock value and there was a lot of superficial treatment of some serious issues (eg child rape, female genital mutilation, self-harm, homophobia). I was also just super confused and slightly concerned about the message the book was sending. It’s a tricky one, as I’m not an OwnVoices reviewer and I understand the author is part of the LGBTQIA+, so I don’t want to criticise the message too deeply if it’s drawn from loved experience. But genuinely the whole novel seemed to be perpetuating harmful stereotypes and had homophobic undertones. It could have also done with a good edit.. I couldn’t understand why certain content was introduced and never brought up again (ie Tomas’ side trip to Peru? 🤷🏻♀️).
Obviously this one wasn’t quite for me. If you’ve read this, I’d love to know your thoughts and whether I’ve egregiously misread the point of this book?
Mmm this one definitely wasn’t for me. I’ll start with what I liked: short chapters are always a win for me and make for page-turning novels - A MODERN MARRIAGE was no different. Vukašin does well in building tension and I was eager to start the next chapter every time I closed the preceding one. I also enjoyed how it explored different characters’ perspectives and I felt the author was able to authentically capture all of the different voices.
However.. on the whole I was left pretty unsatisfied. I felt that the author had included a number of things for shock value and there was a lot of superficial treatment of some serious issues (eg child rape, female genital mutilation, self-harm, homophobia). I was also just super confused and slightly concerned about the message the book was sending. It’s a tricky one, as I’m not an OwnVoices reviewer and I understand the author is part of the LGBTQIA+, so I don’t want to criticise the message too deeply if it’s drawn from loved experience. But genuinely the whole novel seemed to be perpetuating harmful stereotypes and had homophobic undertones. It could have also done with a good edit.. I couldn’t understand why certain content was introduced and never brought up again (ie Tomas’ side trip to Peru? 🤷🏻♀️).
Obviously this one wasn’t quite for me. If you’ve read this, I’d love to know your thoughts and whether I’ve egregiously misread the point of this book?
January 19, 2022
Simple plot story. Isn’t enough for a mystery, not for a drama either. None of the characters were likeable. Very short shallow chapters. Super superficial in its treatment. Sometimes even homophobic and sometimes even misogyny. I wish I had spent my time reading something better. Save the money and most important your time.
September 15, 2021
5* Secret & Lies Stars
What a fantastic debut novel from Filip Vukasin!
Klara’s life comes to a grinding holt when she receives the news that her beloved husband Dante is found unconscious in a Gay Sauna! What follows is disbelief that this has happened because they are happily married and trying desperately to have a baby. Secrets and lies abound throughout the story, and emotions are running high! The consequences of Dante’s actions have a profound affect on the people in his life.
The story is told from 3 POV, Klara who is a fun-loving cosmetic doctor, Thomas her best friend and partner in their cosmetic clinic and Rachel who is Kalra’s sister-in-law and is extremely nosy and judgmental! I did not like or relate to her at all. These characters were so real and original.
The chapters were short and engaging which gave a great flow to the story.
This was a very well written book full of intrigue and heartbreak and had me turning the pages wanting to get to the bottom of why?
What a fantastic debut novel from Filip Vukasin!
Klara’s life comes to a grinding holt when she receives the news that her beloved husband Dante is found unconscious in a Gay Sauna! What follows is disbelief that this has happened because they are happily married and trying desperately to have a baby. Secrets and lies abound throughout the story, and emotions are running high! The consequences of Dante’s actions have a profound affect on the people in his life.
The story is told from 3 POV, Klara who is a fun-loving cosmetic doctor, Thomas her best friend and partner in their cosmetic clinic and Rachel who is Kalra’s sister-in-law and is extremely nosy and judgmental! I did not like or relate to her at all. These characters were so real and original.
The chapters were short and engaging which gave a great flow to the story.
This was a very well written book full of intrigue and heartbreak and had me turning the pages wanting to get to the bottom of why?
September 27, 2021
Relatively gripping page turner about the secrets families keep from each other. Short chapters hop between different character perspectives which worked well, especially with the utterly insufferable psychologist sister in law
October 12, 2021
✍️ This debut dark domestic story follows married couple Klara and Dante. They are hoping to start a family soon and living in prosperity until one day Klara gets a phone call telling her that Dante is in a coma in ICU after being found unconscious at a gay sauna. Klara's life is turned into chaos as she starts to scrutinise and become perplexed as to why and how this happened.
As soon as I began reading this book I knew immediately that I was going to love it from beginning to end and I did without a doubt. The writing style was articulate and eloquent and full of proficient knowledge. I liked that the chapters were brief and the multiple point of view narratives. I was captivated and intrigued from start to finish and couldn't put it down. A very intensified thriller.
As soon as I began reading this book I knew immediately that I was going to love it from beginning to end and I did without a doubt. The writing style was articulate and eloquent and full of proficient knowledge. I liked that the chapters were brief and the multiple point of view narratives. I was captivated and intrigued from start to finish and couldn't put it down. A very intensified thriller.
November 21, 2022
A cruel reminder in why you should never buy a book without checking it’s Goodreads reviews first
October 16, 2021
I agree with what Lysh says in her review.
January 1, 2025
Filip Vukasin’s “Modern Marriage” is less a novel and more a Frankenstein’s monster of bad ideas stitched together with botched metaphors and embalmed in its own self-importance. Now, I normally avoid spoilers in reviews, but, y’know, fuck this book.
Let’s start with the premise - a woman spiralling after her husband’s sudden death - because it sounds like it should have emotional heft. Instead, we get a hollow paean to cosmetic surgery that reads like it was funded by a Botox clinic’s marketing department. The book’s underlying message appears to be that physical perfection might just heal emotional devastation, which is as shallow as it is morally repugnant. If you’ve ever wondered whether the beauty industry has gone too far, this book will answer with a resounding, “Not far enough! Scalpel, please!”
And the characters. Jesus H. Christ, the characters! Rachael, the therapist sister-in-law, is so vile that it’s hard to believe she isn’t intended as some Machiavellian villain. Instead, the author appears to think she’s just a straight-talking bestie. This woman is a therapist? A mother? FUCKING HELL. Someone call the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as well as Child Protection before she prescribes collagen fillers to cure depression.
Then there’s Klara, the main character, whose psychological depth could be measured with a paddle-pop stick. She actually blames her vulva for its failure to manifest a baby and for, apparently, turning her husband gay. It must be quite the vulva. I'm intrigued, was a single woman consulted before this was written? It reads less like insight into a female perspective and more like the deranged ramblings of someone who’s only ever met women through reality TV.
Tomas, meanwhile, is the novel's moral compass. Yes, our moral compass is mostly concerned that Klara isn’t getting enough cosmetic procedures to properly advertise their clinic. Within weeks of her husband’s death, he’s fretting about her face, her weight, and her failure to keep pace with her filler schedule. Is this satire? It’s impossible to tell.
The prose is no saving grace either, slathered in mixed metaphors like a surgeon performing brain surgery with a stethoscope and calling it a heart-to-heart. It’s florid when it needs restraint, plodding when it needs momentum, and occasionally so bad it veers into comedy. But even this grim amusement can’t salvage the sheer ineptitude on display.
Content-wise, what's the word I'm groping for? Disturbing? Exploitative? No, I'll need two: "utterly mishandled". Child pregnancy? Incest? Genital mutilation? They’re all here, flung about like props in a freak show, treated as narrative shortcuts rather than deeply complex issues. It’s as though the author compiled a list of edgy topics and ticked them off one by one, hoping the shock factor would cover for the lack of substance. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Grief, supposedly the emotional core of the novel, is treated with about as much weight as a rescheduled dentist appointment. Klara’s abortion, which should have carried emotional and thematic resonance, is instead glossed over like an afterthought. Even the fallout from her sister-in-law finding out about it fizzles into nothing, a narrative damp squib.
The ending? It’s not so much a climax as it is the literary equivalent of walking into a glass door. After slogging through the melodrama, the overwrought trauma, and the soap opera theatrics, you’re left staring at the final page in disbelief, wondering why you bothered. It’s not just bad, it’s incoherent, an existential crisis masquerading as fiction.
“Modern Marriage” is a spectacular failure. It’s confused about its own purpose, insensitive in its treatment of heavy topics, and riddled with unlikeable characters who feel less human and more like grotesque caricatures. I'll give it half a star for the sheer audacity of publishing this trainwreck, and even that feels generous.
1/2
Let’s start with the premise - a woman spiralling after her husband’s sudden death - because it sounds like it should have emotional heft. Instead, we get a hollow paean to cosmetic surgery that reads like it was funded by a Botox clinic’s marketing department. The book’s underlying message appears to be that physical perfection might just heal emotional devastation, which is as shallow as it is morally repugnant. If you’ve ever wondered whether the beauty industry has gone too far, this book will answer with a resounding, “Not far enough! Scalpel, please!”
And the characters. Jesus H. Christ, the characters! Rachael, the therapist sister-in-law, is so vile that it’s hard to believe she isn’t intended as some Machiavellian villain. Instead, the author appears to think she’s just a straight-talking bestie. This woman is a therapist? A mother? FUCKING HELL. Someone call the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as well as Child Protection before she prescribes collagen fillers to cure depression.
Then there’s Klara, the main character, whose psychological depth could be measured with a paddle-pop stick. She actually blames her vulva for its failure to manifest a baby and for, apparently, turning her husband gay. It must be quite the vulva. I'm intrigued, was a single woman consulted before this was written? It reads less like insight into a female perspective and more like the deranged ramblings of someone who’s only ever met women through reality TV.
Tomas, meanwhile, is the novel's moral compass. Yes, our moral compass is mostly concerned that Klara isn’t getting enough cosmetic procedures to properly advertise their clinic. Within weeks of her husband’s death, he’s fretting about her face, her weight, and her failure to keep pace with her filler schedule. Is this satire? It’s impossible to tell.
The prose is no saving grace either, slathered in mixed metaphors like a surgeon performing brain surgery with a stethoscope and calling it a heart-to-heart. It’s florid when it needs restraint, plodding when it needs momentum, and occasionally so bad it veers into comedy. But even this grim amusement can’t salvage the sheer ineptitude on display.
Content-wise, what's the word I'm groping for? Disturbing? Exploitative? No, I'll need two: "utterly mishandled". Child pregnancy? Incest? Genital mutilation? They’re all here, flung about like props in a freak show, treated as narrative shortcuts rather than deeply complex issues. It’s as though the author compiled a list of edgy topics and ticked them off one by one, hoping the shock factor would cover for the lack of substance. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Grief, supposedly the emotional core of the novel, is treated with about as much weight as a rescheduled dentist appointment. Klara’s abortion, which should have carried emotional and thematic resonance, is instead glossed over like an afterthought. Even the fallout from her sister-in-law finding out about it fizzles into nothing, a narrative damp squib.
The ending? It’s not so much a climax as it is the literary equivalent of walking into a glass door. After slogging through the melodrama, the overwrought trauma, and the soap opera theatrics, you’re left staring at the final page in disbelief, wondering why you bothered. It’s not just bad, it’s incoherent, an existential crisis masquerading as fiction.
“Modern Marriage” is a spectacular failure. It’s confused about its own purpose, insensitive in its treatment of heavy topics, and riddled with unlikeable characters who feel less human and more like grotesque caricatures. I'll give it half a star for the sheer audacity of publishing this trainwreck, and even that feels generous.
1/2
November 26, 2021
A patient recommended this to me and I am so thankful. A confronting page turner that I couldn’t put down. It was a well needed escape from the world set in my home town.
February 5, 2022
I understand that Modern Marriage is a debut novel and, regardless, it's a cracking story. The story is narrated in the 1st person through 3 main characters: the wife, Klara, the best friend, Tomas and the sister-in-law, Rachel. Interwoven into these narratives are the other characters of the story and the plot. Each chapter is a narrative of each of the main character's version of events. The story is gripping and revolves around a family secret which only becomes apparent as a result of a tragic accident occurring at the beginning of the story. The lead up to the final revelation is a symphonic crescendo; it had me on the edge of my seat. My only reservation about this novel is the format of the story. By the end of the novel there are 97 chapters. I've read books with this type of format previously (e.g. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas) however found Modern Marriage to have shorter chapters assigned to each character's version. Maybe the chapters could have been longer and the number reduced. A minor criticism for what was otherwise a very accomplished story. Highly recommended.
January 9, 2022
The story line was very confusing
July 7, 2024
Boring DNF
March 20, 2023
2.5-3 stars. A disjointed read that missed the mark, maybe in part due it being a debut written by a doctor, with presumably no background in writing. The writing itself isn't terrible and it mostly kept my interest but there were just so many flaws.
The character of Rachel, the self-important psychologist sister in law, was ridiculously stereotyped and seemed more of a caricature than a real person. The author didn't know how to write female characters well- the protagonist Klara was all over the place and seemed so clinical in her pov chapters. She barely showed emotion or shock when Dante died. Her later decision to have a termination seemed completely devoid of emotion, with her only concern that she would struggle financially as a single mother and that it wasn't the way parenthood was meant to be, following the sudden death of Dante. Surely she would have felt some real conflict over this, after they were trying for a baby for years? Surely having a living connection to her much-loved deceased husband (albeit blurred by the fact that she found out he was secretly gay) would have been a gift, to at least make her think twice before terminating?
The inclusion of graphic self harm, including genital mutilation, was jarring and felt unnecessary. I also couldn't see the point of Tomas and Sam's trip to Peru; it added nothing to the plot other than a chance to insert the migrant experience. Too many social issues were thrown into the mix - the gay marriage plebiscite, for instance, which again didn't add anything. Yes, the core theme was about a closet gay man married to a woman, but why the need to have the plebiscite as a backdrop?
Plot holes abounded, such as the family not knowing where Dante died (a gay sauna) and blaming Klara for not telling them- surely they could have asked the police this question themselves? The ending too was ambiguous and weird- I still don't know if Klara lived or died, and if she actually suicided or if Dante's secret lover had something to do with it. It felt rushed and abrupt, and ultimately unsatisfying. (Audio)
The character of Rachel, the self-important psychologist sister in law, was ridiculously stereotyped and seemed more of a caricature than a real person. The author didn't know how to write female characters well- the protagonist Klara was all over the place and seemed so clinical in her pov chapters. She barely showed emotion or shock when Dante died. Her later decision to have a termination seemed completely devoid of emotion, with her only concern that she would struggle financially as a single mother and that it wasn't the way parenthood was meant to be, following the sudden death of Dante. Surely she would have felt some real conflict over this, after they were trying for a baby for years? Surely having a living connection to her much-loved deceased husband (albeit blurred by the fact that she found out he was secretly gay) would have been a gift, to at least make her think twice before terminating?
The inclusion of graphic self harm, including genital mutilation, was jarring and felt unnecessary. I also couldn't see the point of Tomas and Sam's trip to Peru; it added nothing to the plot other than a chance to insert the migrant experience. Too many social issues were thrown into the mix - the gay marriage plebiscite, for instance, which again didn't add anything. Yes, the core theme was about a closet gay man married to a woman, but why the need to have the plebiscite as a backdrop?
Plot holes abounded, such as the family not knowing where Dante died (a gay sauna) and blaming Klara for not telling them- surely they could have asked the police this question themselves? The ending too was ambiguous and weird- I still don't know if Klara lived or died, and if she actually suicided or if Dante's secret lover had something to do with it. It felt rushed and abrupt, and ultimately unsatisfying. (Audio)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
3⭐️
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
Klara’s life is finally perfect. She has the husband, the house, a successful business and is now trying for a baby. Yet the life Klara has built is about to come crashing down in a devastating manner, for her husband Dante has been rushed to hospital having suffered a heart attack at a gay sauna.
Dante now lies in a coma from which he will never wake, leaving Klara with a million questions and not a single answer. She cannot turn to Dante’s family, for they would not believe he was gay for a moment; but with a meddling sister in law who wants to know why Klara won’t name the spa he died at and with her best friend too scared to tell her that he previously saw Dante at the spa, it’s only a matter of time until Klara’s hand is forced in a way that no one will see coming.
The blurb for Modern Marriage by debut novelist Filip Vukašin grabbed me as soon as I read it. While the plot itself made for a good read, the characters for the most part annoyed me. I’m all for characters with good and evil agendas, I don’t need to like what they are doing in the plot to appreciate the part they play in it; but in this instance I felt they were a bit lacklustre and didn’t support the plot as well as they could have.
Modern Marriage had a clever and interesting plot until the end of the book, when it dramatically went down hill. The ending was way too abrupt and left me deeply unsatisfied. I had no issue with Vukašin killing Dante off, in fact this added to the intrigue of the plot; but his death rather than recovery meant that the ending left the reader with so many unanswered questions. Some readers will no doubt love this approach as it leaves it open to interpretation; but not me. I needed more, not just about Dante’s sexuality; but about his lover stalking Klara and his family finding out about Klara’s pregnancy termination, among other things.
A different but interesting read as a result of a number of poignant social issues, Modern Marriage wavered between parts where I couldn’t put it down and parts where it really frustrated me. Ultimately, it was a good but not great read. However, as always; I encourage you to read it and make your own mind up.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
Klara’s life is finally perfect. She has the husband, the house, a successful business and is now trying for a baby. Yet the life Klara has built is about to come crashing down in a devastating manner, for her husband Dante has been rushed to hospital having suffered a heart attack at a gay sauna.
Dante now lies in a coma from which he will never wake, leaving Klara with a million questions and not a single answer. She cannot turn to Dante’s family, for they would not believe he was gay for a moment; but with a meddling sister in law who wants to know why Klara won’t name the spa he died at and with her best friend too scared to tell her that he previously saw Dante at the spa, it’s only a matter of time until Klara’s hand is forced in a way that no one will see coming.
The blurb for Modern Marriage by debut novelist Filip Vukašin grabbed me as soon as I read it. While the plot itself made for a good read, the characters for the most part annoyed me. I’m all for characters with good and evil agendas, I don’t need to like what they are doing in the plot to appreciate the part they play in it; but in this instance I felt they were a bit lacklustre and didn’t support the plot as well as they could have.
Modern Marriage had a clever and interesting plot until the end of the book, when it dramatically went down hill. The ending was way too abrupt and left me deeply unsatisfied. I had no issue with Vukašin killing Dante off, in fact this added to the intrigue of the plot; but his death rather than recovery meant that the ending left the reader with so many unanswered questions. Some readers will no doubt love this approach as it leaves it open to interpretation; but not me. I needed more, not just about Dante’s sexuality; but about his lover stalking Klara and his family finding out about Klara’s pregnancy termination, among other things.
A different but interesting read as a result of a number of poignant social issues, Modern Marriage wavered between parts where I couldn’t put it down and parts where it really frustrated me. Ultimately, it was a good but not great read. However, as always; I encourage you to read it and make your own mind up.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2023
.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....
Modern Marriage is the debut novel by Filip Vukašin. It is a domestic drama that touches on lost hope, the complexities of family, friendship and secret, and ultimately a story of grief.
Klara and Dante have been married for years and are trying for a baby. But when Dante is bought to the ICU after being found unresponsive in a gay sauna, Klara must grapple with both her grief at the loss of the life she was planning, as well as grief at the life she thought she had known. This story is told from multiple POV's. Klara as she tries to understand the secret life her husband had been living, Tomas, her best friend and business partner with secrets of his own, and Rachel, Klaras sister in-law, who is determined to uncover what happened to Dante.
There are some truly unlikeable characters in this story, and this impacted my enjoyment as they just didn't feel like multi dimensional characters. Whilst the overall story is a domestic drama, at times, its pacing became too slow for me, and my interest and engagement waned. This book touches on a number of challenging topics, including homophobia, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Overall, this one for me is ⭐️⭐️🌠 (2.5/5).
Modern Marriage is the debut novel by Filip Vukašin. It is a domestic drama that touches on lost hope, the complexities of family, friendship and secret, and ultimately a story of grief.
Klara and Dante have been married for years and are trying for a baby. But when Dante is bought to the ICU after being found unresponsive in a gay sauna, Klara must grapple with both her grief at the loss of the life she was planning, as well as grief at the life she thought she had known. This story is told from multiple POV's. Klara as she tries to understand the secret life her husband had been living, Tomas, her best friend and business partner with secrets of his own, and Rachel, Klaras sister in-law, who is determined to uncover what happened to Dante.
There are some truly unlikeable characters in this story, and this impacted my enjoyment as they just didn't feel like multi dimensional characters. Whilst the overall story is a domestic drama, at times, its pacing became too slow for me, and my interest and engagement waned. This book touches on a number of challenging topics, including homophobia, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Overall, this one for me is ⭐️⭐️🌠 (2.5/5).
February 6, 2024
This book is un-star-rateable. Three stars because I could not put it down. But it is so bad in every conceivable way. I have to admire the author; how did he do it? I absolutely had to keep reading. I was utterly fascinated. But on every level it fails, catastrophically, often hilariously.
I can only assume that the constant reference to body parts and bodily functions using medical terminology (yes, he's a doctor) was .... a JOKE? Others have quoted the more grotesque examples so I shall refrain. I was often laughing out loud, thinking how much fun he must have had. But .... it was very inappropriate if the novel was meant to be serious. It certainly dealt with serious issues from incest to death, self-harm to sexual identity. So perhaps he was trying to invent a new writing style? Stylistically it was all over the place, a hot mess. And the GRAMMAR!!!!!!!! I know that editors don't appear to bother to proofread any more but this was the worst example of grammatical errors - massive, constant, shouty grammatical solecisms - that I have ever encountered in a published work.
I can only commend the author on creating something so entertaining out of something so bad. I still don't quite know how he did it. Looking forward to his next work!! (I think??)
I can only assume that the constant reference to body parts and bodily functions using medical terminology (yes, he's a doctor) was .... a JOKE? Others have quoted the more grotesque examples so I shall refrain. I was often laughing out loud, thinking how much fun he must have had. But .... it was very inappropriate if the novel was meant to be serious. It certainly dealt with serious issues from incest to death, self-harm to sexual identity. So perhaps he was trying to invent a new writing style? Stylistically it was all over the place, a hot mess. And the GRAMMAR!!!!!!!! I know that editors don't appear to bother to proofread any more but this was the worst example of grammatical errors - massive, constant, shouty grammatical solecisms - that I have ever encountered in a published work.
I can only commend the author on creating something so entertaining out of something so bad. I still don't quite know how he did it. Looking forward to his next work!! (I think??)
January 7, 2022
TW: death, self harm, homophobia, mental health.
Modern Marriage is a debut novel by Filip Vukasin, telling the lives of Klara, her husband Dante after Dante is found unconscious at a gay sauna. This book is gripping, dark and at times, very confronting.
I personally don't mind reading when protagonists explore and express their mental health, especially through coping mechanisms of self harm, however I was not prepared in the slightest for the self harm in this book (for those that may be squeamish). For me it came out of left field and I was not prepared at all, during this section of the book, I was driving and listening to it and it really affected me. I returned to reading the rest of the book so i wasn't unecessarily confronted if something just popped up.
I really enjoyed the book being between three perspectives, having short chapters, and the story intertwining from the past and now between each character's experience. It had characters that were endearing, complex, and irritating. Overall I enjoyed it as it was a style of book I've never read before and I found it very interesting and intriguing
Modern Marriage is a debut novel by Filip Vukasin, telling the lives of Klara, her husband Dante after Dante is found unconscious at a gay sauna. This book is gripping, dark and at times, very confronting.
I personally don't mind reading when protagonists explore and express their mental health, especially through coping mechanisms of self harm, however I was not prepared in the slightest for the self harm in this book (for those that may be squeamish). For me it came out of left field and I was not prepared at all, during this section of the book, I was driving and listening to it and it really affected me. I returned to reading the rest of the book so i wasn't unecessarily confronted if something just popped up.
I really enjoyed the book being between three perspectives, having short chapters, and the story intertwining from the past and now between each character's experience. It had characters that were endearing, complex, and irritating. Overall I enjoyed it as it was a style of book I've never read before and I found it very interesting and intriguing
May 8, 2022
Great plot. Loved how it was set around the time of the Australian gay marriage vote.
Interesting storyline and different to other books I've read lately . The author dealt with so many issues and maybe he tried to do too much in one book but I can see he had good intentions of raising serious issues humans have to deal with.
Something about it all missed the mark for me. I liked the short chapters with different perspectives and Rachel was downright despicable but she was meant to be. I liked Klara and Tomas but wanted to warm towards then more. I did adore Klara's mother in law and would have liked her to have a bigger role in this novel.
It'll be interesting to read what this author does next. Reading his background I can understand why he's written this type of book. He must have seen a lot of things in his medical career!
Oh one last thing - that ending! Not sure if I liked that!
Interesting storyline and different to other books I've read lately . The author dealt with so many issues and maybe he tried to do too much in one book but I can see he had good intentions of raising serious issues humans have to deal with.
Something about it all missed the mark for me. I liked the short chapters with different perspectives and Rachel was downright despicable but she was meant to be. I liked Klara and Tomas but wanted to warm towards then more. I did adore Klara's mother in law and would have liked her to have a bigger role in this novel.
It'll be interesting to read what this author does next. Reading his background I can understand why he's written this type of book. He must have seen a lot of things in his medical career!
Oh one last thing - that ending! Not sure if I liked that!
March 3, 2022
As with most books I read and listen to, the premise for this domestic drama grabbed me.
Everything in Klara’s life seems perfect until her husband, Dante,is found unconscious in a gay sauna.
Interest piqued!
Told from three POVs, Klara; her best friend, gay cosmetic practice partner, Tomas; and her sister-in-law, psychologist, Rachael, the story unfolds as Klara searches to find answers.
Ah! The secrets families hide from each other. Number one being that Dante is gay (not a spoiler).
But why? Why do this?
I kept reading to find the answers. But not sure what the aim of this novel is. That we marry to hide our sexuality? Not convinced.
Everything in Klara’s life seems perfect until her husband, Dante,is found unconscious in a gay sauna.
Interest piqued!
Told from three POVs, Klara; her best friend, gay cosmetic practice partner, Tomas; and her sister-in-law, psychologist, Rachael, the story unfolds as Klara searches to find answers.
Ah! The secrets families hide from each other. Number one being that Dante is gay (not a spoiler).
But why? Why do this?
I kept reading to find the answers. But not sure what the aim of this novel is. That we marry to hide our sexuality? Not convinced.
July 22, 2022
This book started well. Promise. A good yarn.
Until about a third in when Clara went mad. Made no sense. A long wanted baby aborted. Cutting and self harm. I get wanting to understand that your husband may have had a gay lover but it just dragged until she eventually knocked herself off. Rachael was unnecessary and Tomas could have been include in a role more suited for a long friendship
I was disappointed, needed a good editing
Until about a third in when Clara went mad. Made no sense. A long wanted baby aborted. Cutting and self harm. I get wanting to understand that your husband may have had a gay lover but it just dragged until she eventually knocked herself off. Rachael was unnecessary and Tomas could have been include in a role more suited for a long friendship
I was disappointed, needed a good editing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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